Radiator



June 13, 1933. A. H. DAVIS, JR., Er AL RADIATOR Filed Sept. 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l r llllllllllllllll II|III|II|HHHHHUIIII| y wwf. d5- 131.5451* .w 1....

June 13, 1933. A. H. DAVIS, JR., Er AL RADIATOR Filed Sept. ll, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS;

wlrnassss Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE ARCHIBALD H. DAVIS, JR., 0F NEW CASTLE, AND PAXSON WINSBOROUGH, 0F PITTS- BURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO SHAW-PERKINS MANUFACTURING COM- Y PANY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA RADIATOR Application ledseptember 11, 1931. Serial No. 562,308.

This invention relates generally to heat exchange apparatus and particularly to improved radiators for heating the rooms of buildings.

1The general object of the invention is to provide a rugged and effective sheet metal heating radiator. Another object is to pro'- vide a self-contained radiator in which a cabinet, extendedsurface heating elements, and a tube for circulating heated fluid, are joined together to constitute a unitary structure.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a heating element, preferably a plurality of tubes of circular cross section disposed in horizontal position one above another in a vertical plane. By means of suitable end connections the tubes are joined to` constitute single or multiple continuous passageways for heat conveying fluid. A unitary cabinet structure, which also functions as a' radiating surface, is made in a plurality of sections which completely enclose the tubes.

Each section is made from a single piece of metal suitably cut and folded to form continuous back, top, and front ribbon-like portions constituting a comparatively narrow strip or panel on the exteriorof the radiator. The back and front portions of each section are of substantially channel shape having inwardly bent integral side plates. The side plates are provided with openings for receiving the horizontal tubes in such manner that the sections are joined rigidly to the tube structure.

Any convenient number of sections may be combined to constitute a radiator of the desired size and capacity. The bottoms of the sections are ordinarily left open to permit ingress of air and suitable openings are provided near the top of each section, ordinarily in the front face thereof, for permitting egress of air.

The stated objects 'of the invention, together with other objects that will become apparent upon further consideration of this specification, may be achieved by the specific structures herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which' Fig. 1 is a view in front elevationof a unitary radiator embodying our invention.; Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the radiator; Fig. 3 is a ypartial view in horizontal section, taken onv the plane represented by the line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the tubes expanded to lock the various parts of the radiator 'together; Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation, similar to Fig. 2, of a radiator embodying a modification of the invention; Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing another modification of the invention; Fig. 7 is a view in section, similar to Fig. 3, showing a further modification of the invention; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a blank for a section of the radiator, cut from sheet metal and pressed to form flanges thereon'rFig. 9 is" Fig. 11 is a view in section taken on the line XI-XI of Fig. 10 showing the flanged openings in the transverse plates; Fig. 12 is a plan view of a blank for a section of a modified radiator, that has been cut and pressed from sheet metal; Fig. 13 is a view in elevation of the blank shown in Fig. 12 folded to channel shape; and Fig. 14 is a vieW in end elevation of a radiator made from the blank shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the radiator is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as a unitary structure having a smooth paneled exterior surface. The usual supply pipe 2 for admitting steam or other heating medium to the radiator is connected at one end thereof by means of a control valve 3. At the other end of the heating tube, the usual thermostatic trap 4 is provided for conveying condensed liquid from the radiator to a return pipe 5. From the control valve 3, heated fluid may pass through the radiator by way of one or more horizontally disposed tubes 7, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the runs of which are connected together at their ends to provide single or multiple continuous passageways through the radiator to the outlet trap 4.

The radiator ma be supported in any suitable manner, as y a base member or feet (not shown), or it may be mounted on the wall of a room for instance beneath a window, by means of brackets fastened to the wall back of the radiator and disposed to carry the radiator as shown in Fig. 14.

As shown in. Fig. 2, the tubes 7 are arranged, in this particular structure, in two banks of four tubes each, extending longitudinally of the radiator and disposed in parallel vertical planes. The tubes are supported in their normal relative positions by means of a plurality of transverse plates 11, one of which is shown in detail in Figs. 10 and 11. Each of the plates 11 is provided with a plurality of flanged openings 12 suitably spaced and positioned to receive the tubes 7, and to have heat transferring contact therewith. In the particular structure shown, the transverse plates 11 are disposed on the tubes 7 in groups of three plates equally spaced from each other, the groups being spaced at distances substantially equal to twice the distance between individual plates. 4

Each group of three plates is enclosed by a shell or section 13 that constitutes a portion of the exterior or cabinet structure of the radiator. Each section 13 is formed from a single piece of sheet metal that may be cut from a flat plate, as shown in Fig. 8. Suitable flanged openings 14 are formed by a pressing operation, and the end portions then are bent to channel shape, as shown in Fig. 9, with the openings 14 in the side plates of the channels disposed in alignment.

The entire section is then folded upon itself to the finished shape shown in Fig. 2 with the openings 14 positioned to receive the tubes in heat transferring contact. One bank of tubes is passed through the openings in the side walls of the front portion of the section and the corresponding o enings in the plates 11 and the other ban of tubes is passed through the openings in the side walls of the back portion and the aligned plate openings thus locking the sections to the plates 11.

The exposed portions of the section 13 constitute a continuous strip or ribbon extending up the front of the radiator, across the top, and down the back, functioning throughout as an active radiating surface. The lower ends of the front and back portions of the section are turned under to give a rounded appearance to the bottom of the radiator similar to the appearance of the top, but the bottom of each section is left open to provide an inlet opening 15 for air.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper portion of each section extends somewhat above the tops of the transverse plates 11 to constitute a flue for promoting convection currents through the radiator. At the front of each section there is formed an outlet opening 16, bounded by inturned flanges 16a, the bottom of which is slightly above the tops of the transverse plates 11. When the radiator is in operation, the heated air within each section moves upward and outward through the opening 16, being rcplaced'by cool air from the room that enters the inlet opening 15.-

In manufacturing a radiator of this type, the transverse plates 11 and the sections 13 are formed from sheet metal, as explained hcreinbefore, and assembled in their proper relative positions with the corresponding openings 12 and 14 in alignment. The various sections and plates may be held in position by any suitable fixture in such manner that the tubes 17 may be passed through the openings 12 and 14.

Preferably the tubes 7 are formed from drawn copper tubing of circular section, the tubing being cut into lengths of substantially twice the length of the radiator and each length bent upon itself to constitute two spaced horizontal runs connected by an integral return bend, four` such tubing sections being utilized in the radiator shown. The double sections may then be inserted in pairs of openings through the structure.

After the four double sections of tubing are placed in their proper positions in the radiator structure, they are connected to one another at their ends by return bend or elbow members 17 which are joined to the ends of the tubing by brazed joints 20 or other suitable fastening means. By means of the return bends 17 the tubing is joined to constitute a single or multiple passageway through the radiator for the heating medium, provided at its ends with connec-` tion elements 18, one of which connects to tihe control valve 3 and the other to the trap After the radiator has been thus far assembled and all of the connections between the individual tubes 7 have been made, the structure may be secured together by expanding the tube 7 by means of hydraulic pressure to extend it as shown in Fig. 4 in such manner that it closely engages the inner surface of the flanged openings 12 and 14 to hold the elements of the radiator securely in position.

The thermal efficiency of the joints between the tube 7 and the extended surface structure may be increased by soldering or galvanizing the plates and sections to the tubes, the soldering or galvanizing ma be done in addition to expanding the tube or the solder may be depended upon to hold the structure together without resorting to other securing means.

After the elements have thus been joined together, suitable end sections 19 may be apvthe transverse plates 11.

plied to the radiator to enclose the return bends at the ends of the tubes` 7 and to give to the radiator a smooth exterior surface at its ends. 1

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 5,A the sections 13 are made in the same manner as are the sections shown in Figs. 1 to 4. However, in this structure no transverse plates need be utilized. To tie the two sides of the radiator together, connecting links or strips 21 are used instead of As shown, the strips 21 are provided at each end with an opening 22 for receiving one of the tubes 7. One strip 'is disposed to engage at its ends the two top tubes of the vertical banks and another to engage the two bottom tubes, thus holding the radiator securely together. Any convenient number of strips may be used and they may be distributed as desired along the length of the radiator.

Similar strips are utilized in the modification shown in Fig. 6 instead of transverse plates for holding the sections in place. In this structure the tube banks in the two sides of the sections are not the same but are formed from a continuous tube the opposite runs on the two sides being disposed relative to each other in staggered relation. Strips or links 25 are disposed in angular position from the tubes in one bank to the tubes in the other bank thus forming a lattice work structure holding the sides of the sections together. Likewise, in this radiator any convenient number of strips may be used to support the sections and the number of tubes in the tube banks may be varied as desired.

Fig. 7 shows a modification in which intermediate plates or links are dispensed with, the panel sections 13 of the cabinet formingthe transverse locking and radiating members by parallel equally spaced interior fianges extending substantially across the cabinet. In this modification the front wall of the panel section has its fianges 51') turned inward at right angles to the front wall for a short distance, then the flanges are bent toward each other to form portions 51 substantially parallel to the front wall, then they are turned at right angles again, forming parallel flanges 52 extending substantially to the rear wall of the finished section. These fianges have properly positioned Flange perforations for receiving the heating tubes 7.

The back wall of the panel likewise has inturned fianges 55 turned inward at right angles and bent to bring the inner parts 56 of the flanges into parallel relation and substantially equally spaced with respect to flanges 52 of the front wall. These rear wall fianges are likewise perforated to receive the tubes 7.

This arrangement provides cross-locking and radiating plates 52 and 56 integral with the anel sections of the radiator cabinet. Uni orm spacing and consequent maximum efficiency is provided, while the smooth paneled effect of the cabinet is preserved.

In Figs. 12, 13, and 14 is shown a modification of the invention in which neither transverse plates nor strips are necessary to hold the sides of the sections together. T he sections of this radiator are formed from flatmaterial, as shown in Fig. 12, in the said general manner that the sections 13 of Fig. 8 are formed, with the exception that the edges of the sections are indented or scalloped in such way that recesses 31 are provided at the positions to be occupied by alternate tubes. Between the recesses are lugs or projections 32, each having an opening 33 for receiving tube 7. When the sections are folded together, as shown in Fig. 14, the lugs 32 at one side fit into the recesses 31 at the other side to form a substantially continuous transverse Wall with openings 33 disposed in the vertical midplane of the radiator.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the lugs in one wall of the sections and at one side thereof alternate with the lugs in the other wall and at the samevside in such manner that each tube 7 is engaged by one lug at one side ofthe section in one Wall thereof and by one lug at the other side of the section in the other wall. In this way the sections are held together without separate cross pieces and Without overlapping of the wall portions. If desired, transverse plates similar' to those shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be disposed within the sections thus formed and freely Csupported on the tubes 7 for assisting in transmitting heat from the tubes to the air within the sections.

Others skilled in the art will appreciate that various other modifications may be made in the general arrangement ofthe heating tubes and enclosing sections without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

IVe claim:

f l. A radiator comprising cabinet sections each of a single piece of sheet lnetal constituting integral front, top, and back panels, the front and back panels having integral inwardly bent flanges with tube-receiving openings, and tubes for heating fluid disposed through the openings in such manner as to hold the front and back panels together.

2. A radiator for heating purposes, comprising tubes for conducting heated fluid disposed in parallel vertical planes, lshells of channel section extending vertically to constitute the front, top, and the back of the radiator, each shell engaging one of the tubes for supporting it, and cross plates disposed f tical planes to constitute front and back walls of a cabinet and having horizontally disposed openings in the flanges ot' the channel shells, the cabinet, each plate having an opening in alignment'with each of the openings in they Vflanges of the channel members, and tubes for conducting heated fluid disposed through the aligned openings.

4. A radiator comprising a plurality of vertical plates disposedin spaced planes and having a plurality of aligned spaced opene ings, tubes for heating fluid disposed in horizontal position through the aligned openings, and an enclosing section for the plates comprising a continuous sheet of metal constituting front, topl and back portions, the front and back portions being of channel shape and having openings in the inturned sides thereof for engaging the tubes.

5. A radiator comprising cabinet sections each of a single piece of sheet metal constituting integral `front, top, and back anels, the front and back anels being of c annel section with inwar ly bent flanges having. horizontally aligned. openings, transverse extended-surface plates disposed within each section and having openings in alignment with the openings in the front and back channel-shaped members, respectively, and tubes for heating fluid disposed in horizontal position through the openings and secured therein to constitute the radiator a unitary structure.

6. lA radiator for heat transfer comprising horizontally7 disposed tubes adapted to contain a heating' medium, a plurality of spaced vertically disposed baillev plates having holes for receiving the tubes, and a housing for said plates and tubes, said housing comprising an integral sheet of metal cut and folded to enclose the baille plates and having holes for receiving the tubes to support it, thus providing a flue for promoting circulation of air past the tubes and plates.

7. A heating radiator comprising horizontally disposed tubes, a plurality of spaced bame plates carried by the tubes, and a plurality of rectangular housings mounted on the tubes, each of said housings comprising a single sheet of metal cut and bent to form front, top and back wall in rectangular relation and to enclose a group of bafile plates to provide a flue for conducting air past the tubes and the plates and having openings for engaging the tubes to constitute a unitary structure and to permit escape of heated air from the front of the housings near the top thereof.

8. A heating radiator comprising rectangular shells of channel shape disposed vertically disposed plates within aeiaiee Aside by side in two spaced vertical lanes to constitute continuous flat front wal s and back walls of the radiator and having aligned openin s extending horizontally longitudinally conducting heating fluid disposed in the openings and secured to the shells in such manner as to hold them together to constitutea unitary structure.

9. A radiator comprising a pluralit of cabinet sections', each section'belng ma e of a single piece of sheet metal cut and folded to constitute front, top, and back portions the front and back portions having inwardly bent flanges with projections having tubereceiving openings, and heating tubes disposed throu h the openings in suchv manner as to hol the front and the back portions together.

10. A radiator comprising a pluralit of cabinet sections, each section being ma e of a single piece of sheet metal cut and folded to constitute front,'top, and back portions the front and back portions having inwardly bent flanges with lugs having tube-receiving openings, and a heating tube disposed through the opening in one lug at one side of the section and through the opening in one lug at the other side of the section to hold the front and the back portions together.

11. A unitary radiator comprising a heating tube and a surrounding Sheet metal inclosing cabinet, the cabinet being made up of sheet metal panel sections threaded on the tube in heat-conducting contact therewith, each section comprising a sheet of metal forming a contin1 1ous front, top, and back panel of the cabinet and having inturned side flanges on the front and back portions, said flanges being perforated to receive the said tube.

12. A unitary radiator comprising a heating tube and a surrounding sheet metal inclosing cabinet, the cabinet being made up of sheet metal sections threaded on the tube in heat-conducting contact therewith, each section comprising a sheet of metal forming a continuous front, top7 and back panel of the cabinet and having inturned side flanges on the front and back portions, said flanges being perforated to receive the said tube, and said tube being rigidly united with said flanges by being expanded thereagainst.

13. A unitary radiator comprising a heating tube and a surrounding sheet metal inclosing cabinet, the cabinet being made up of sheet metal sections threaded on the tube in heat-conducting contact therewith, each section comprising a sheet of metal forming a continuous front, top, and back panel of the cabinet and each section having its two flanges on the front wall bent parallel to said wall and then turned at right angles to form parallel inward flanges extending o the radiator, and tubes for y ARCHIBALD H. DAVIS, JR. PAXSoN WINsBoRoUGH. 

